Chapter 126: A Glorious Record, Unprecedented in History

The fierce slaughter beneath the valley raged until dusk, by which time the one-hundred-thousand-strong army of the Wusang Kingdom had been completely annihilated. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the valley was drenched in blood; the thick, nauseating stench of carnage hung heavy in the air. Three thousand Shang soldiers had single-handedly decimated an enemy force of one hundred thousand, suffering not a single casualty. Zero casualties? The very concept was terrifying. Though their faces were blackened by smoke like soot-covered monkeys, every Shang soldier beamed with immense exhilaration. This massacre was the most glorious and shocking victory in the century-long history of the Yin-Shang Dynasty—a feat worthy of being etched into the annals of history without question.

"General Huang, is the battle truly over?" the soldiers asked, their expressions still wavering in disbelief. The explosive power of the grenades was overwhelming and their effect delightful; a single man could now contend against thousands. Such a magnificent achievement was beyond imagination. Huang Feihu himself remained visibly shaken. Jiji Guba, who had desperately tried to flee the valley, had been blown to smithereens, meeting the fate he deserved.

"General Huang, I truly cannot believe that with our mere three thousand men, we have slaughtered the one-hundred-thousand-strong army of the Wusang Kingdom. This..." Such a monumental, historic victory would have been unthinkable in the past.

"Indeed, I still feel as though I am dreaming," Su Hu said, hurrying over to reunite with him. Having watched the Wusang commander, Jiji Guba, blasted into nothingness at the bottom of the valley, he felt a surge of triumph.

"General Su, we really did it. We launched a counter-slaughter with three thousand soldiers and wiped out their one-hundred-thousand-strong army. Ha! I still feel like I am in a dream..." Su Hu bowed toward the heavens with deep emotion: "This is all thanks to the Gentleman! If he had not casually mentioned the use of grenades, we would not have achieved such glory today."

Huang Feihu looked at Su Hu with unconcealed envy. "Alas, General Su, I truly envy you for having met that Gentleman outside the Gate of Immortals. It is a great pity that I, Huang Feihu, lack such fortune." His long sigh revealed the greatest regret in his heart. He had heard of the Gentleman living at the Gate of Immortals, yet he had never laid eyes upon him. Huang Feihu dreamed of seeing the man’s true grace. Would he ever fulfill this wish in his lifetime?

"General Su, General Huang, look over there! It seems to be the King’s army!" a soldier suddenly shouted in excitement. Su Hu and Huang Feihu looked up. Not far from the valley, a vast sea of people indeed appeared. It was King Zhou, leading the elite forces of the Great Shang to rendezvous with them.

Passing through Taiping Town, the King and his men had witnessed the tragedy firsthand. The innocent villagers were dead, and the town was almost entirely reduced to ash—a scene so miserable it brought tears to the eyes of the soldiers. Their relief had arrived a step too late. Enraged, King Zhou ordered his troops to march at maximum speed to reach Su Hu and Huang Feihu. Through tireless travel, they finally converged with the three thousand light infantry at dusk.

"Your Majesty, the one-hundred-thousand-strong army of the Wusang Kingdom has been completely annihilated! Not a single survivor remains." Upon hearing this monumental news, King Zhou was so stunned he nearly tumbled from his horse. Fortunately, Wen Zhong was quick enough to steady him, sparing him a fall.

"Grand Tutor Wen, did you hear? The one-hundred-thousand-strong army of Wusang was..."

"They have all been wiped out; we heard," Wen Zhong replied. "In truth, this was within expectations." With the grenades developed by Su Hu, each blast could kill dozens or even hundreds of men. With such overwhelming firepower, Wen Zhong had anticipated this perfect outcome. He had not expected, however, that Su Hu and Huang Feihu would truly pull it off.

Su Hu and Huang Feihu knelt before the King. "Your Majesty, we have fulfilled our mission. The Wusang army has been annihilated, leaving no survivors! We await your judgment!"

"Ha! Is it truly so? That was one hundred thousand men..." King Zhou trembled with excitement. After a long moment, he continued, "Well done! Su Hu, Huang Feihu, you have done well, and so have those three thousand soldiers. You are the blessing of this King, and the blessing of the people of Great Shang! Soldiers, did you hear? The Wusang Kingdom invaded with one hundred thousand men, and now they have been completely wiped out, with not one left alive!"

"Long live the King!" "Long live the Great Shang!"

King Zhou had set out on a personal campaign with fifty thousand elite troops, yet they had not needed to fire a single shot or thrust a single spear, and the enemy force of one hundred thousand had already been destroyed. What a glorious victory!

"General Su, General Huang, and all three thousand soldiers, when we return to Zhaoge, I shall reward every one of you. Ha! This battle was truly exhilarating."

Under his reign, the Yin-Shang Dynasty had been in its twilight. The Gentleman had once said that the Great Shang was like a dying man, and had it not been for the Gentleman’s intervention, King Zhou knew his fate would have been tragic. Thinking of this, he trembled and bowed toward the sky: "Gentleman, have you seen? My late-stage Shang is rising. With only three thousand soldiers, we have slain one hundred thousand of the enemy... If it were not for your guidance, I fear..." The Great Shang would have surely decayed. How else could they have won such a brilliant battle today?

Long live the Gentleman! Long live the Holy Master!

Following the King’s cry of "Long live the Gentleman," the fifty thousand soldiers were ignited with fervor. With the protection of the Holy Master, the Great Shang would surely have a better future. The massacre of the one-hundred-thousand-strong Wusang army by the three thousand soldiers led by Su Hu and Huang Feihu acted like the grenades they used, creating a sensation that rocked the entire Divine Land. The rulers of neighboring countries, who had harbored their own designs, were left completely stunned by the news. How was it possible? Three thousand soldiers versus one hundred thousand? And the army was completely annihilated, with not a single survivor? What kind of combat power was that? Was it a power equal to that of gods? All the rulers of the various kingdoms were left in a state of turmoil. It was not just turmoil—it was a total upheaval.